Banana Split Day

Quick Facts

Learn about Banana Split Day

I believe in holistic medicine, yoga, Pilates and so on. But I also believe in banana split sundaes once in a while.

Gwyneth Paltrow﻿

In our opinion, this is easily one of the best parts of summer or any time of year where you like to indulge in an ice cream treat! It blends together the perfect flavor of bananas with the rich sweet flavor of the ice cream, topped with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, strawberries, hot fudge, and anything else your heart can imagine! Banana Split Day celebrates this amazing treat and a perfect excuse to indulge in it!

History of Banana Split Day

The Banana Split, surprisingly, has a very definite history, and we can pinpoint its origins to one David Evans Stickler in 1904, where he was serving as an apprentice pharmacist at Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Like most pharmacies of the day, it had a soda fountain attached, and it was in this pharmacy that he invented the banana split, which quickly became a hit with the students at Saint Vincent College nearby. Word of mouth made it spread like wildfire, and it soon became an American institution, before going global.

In 2004 Latrobe hosted the 100th anniversary of the invention, the same year that it was certified as the birthplace of the banana split by NICRA (National Ice Cream Retailers Association). It also became the home of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, a huge event with food and events for everyone to take part in.

Of course, like with all great inventions, there is some contention about its origins (unless you ask NICRA). Wilmington, Ohio claims that it was invented there in 1907 in response to a slump in the ice cream business thanks to the winter season.

How to celebrate Banana Split Day

Like we need to tell you how to celebrate Banana Split Day! Grab yourself an entire bushel of bananas, split them and circle a bowl with them, and fill that puppy with ice cream! Then top with whipped cream, nuts, hot fudge, strawberry syrup, and anything else you can imagine, and sprinkle liberally with maraschino cherries.

A bit much? Alright, if you’re going to keep this deliciousness to yourself, maybe what you need is to enjoy it quietly at home. But for a special twist drizzle it with high proof alcohol and ignite it, because hot and cold are great companions.

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